The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-03-03
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
NEW WELCOME OATS.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / would like
to tell your readers about the Welcome oats
sowed small patch of ground last April, and
narrowed them in thoroughly, when up they
grew, vigorous, with broad, dark green leaf,
easily distinguished from the common oats in
their growth, averaging four to five feet in
hight. The stalks, although strong and stiff,
are pleasant to handle; stand up well and has
yielded in good seasons from "a to 1913 bushels
TO the acre They ripen obOut 10 days earlier.
They are very heavy. Our oats weigh 80
pounds TO the level bushel. To any reader
sending two two-cent stamps in letter to pay
postage and packing will send them start OF
the genuine Welcome oats.-W. L. FRoss, Don
nelsyille, o. =
RECIPE FOE KEEPING EGGS
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: would like
a recipe for keeping eggs for year or longer.
ABRAHAM STRAUsER, Roaring Creek. Pa.
SMUT IN CORN.
Smut in corn is fast becoming prevailing
evil. injaring the crops and poisoning the fod-
der and the cattle which consume it. Its nature
is worth study, so that some remedy can be
found for it. 1t is true parasitic disease, no
doubt which affects every part of the plant,
and is as liable TO infect the seed and the soil as
the plant itself In fact the evidence goes to
show that every part of the plant is infected,
! for the outburst of the seed of the fungus ap-
pears in every part, the roots, stem, leaves,
flowers and seed being all more or less affected.
| The soil cannot help but be infected by the
large quantity of smut left upon il in the debris
of the crop, and that brought by the winds aud
washed down by the rains from the air in
which it floats. The smut of corn is precisely
| like that Of wheat or oats I'm its prominent
! characteristics, aud differs from the latter III
some invisible points only, and the means for
evading this which are used with effect with
! the smaller grains may be used equally with
! corn. We have been experimenting with corn
smut for some years, and have found the soak
ing-of the seed in a solution Of sulphate of cop
per or one Of chloride OF potash-the common
muriate of potash used as a fertilizer-has
the same effect in preventing smut in the crop
| as il has with wheat and oats.
USE THE CURRYCoMB.
good currycomb costs bat 20 cents Buy
| one and use it on your dairy cows-not semi
monthly, nor semi-weekly, but every morning
and not in n slip-shod, hurry-to- get-over
| way, but in a way which will soon manifest
| itself 10 the observer in the clean, smooth ap-
! pearance of the animals hides. Ii will be a
little tedious TO faithfully keep up the habit,
which great many farmers, even in this NOV
ing age, are disposed to ridieule; but it will be
very comforting TO the COWS and will help i
great deal to keep them in good condition. The
yearings, too. will be much benefited by fire.
qnent application Of the same sanitary process
NOTES.
A common hoe, Strengthened out by a
blacksmith, makes a cheap and excellent i'm
plement for chopping roots for stOck.-TroJ
Times.
In favor of farming, observes recent
writer, it may be truly said that greater pro-
portion Of those who begin by working on a farm
rise TO competence and moderate wealth than
in any other phrsuit-N Y. Examiner.
Breeding animals should not be kept toe
fat, and those that are intended for breeding
purposes should not be fed with those being fat
ted for market. III the females be too fat tbs
young will be weak and puny.-Western Rural
"A correspondent Of the Rural Near Yorke,
has often noticed with regret the valuable time
wasted by farmers around the stove in the
village store. In some cases every stove IN
town has a dozen or more patrons who spend
nearly all their spare time hugging it. As &
rule, the topics discussed at these gathering
are improbable, If not altogether damaging.
Mr.. Angel, in his latest circular letter
against the docking OF horses tails, gives it a.
his opinion that horses tormented through hot
weather by flies in the daytime aud musketos
which have not been deprived of natures pro
lection. II, as Agassiz and many Others hay,
thought, there is future life for horses as vel
as men, and if we are ever called upon TO answel
in that life for our treatment of the dumt
creatures here, how can we justify our approya
or consent TO this act of cruelty which only
ends with the death Of the horse?-Chicdg
Tribune.
The AHerican AgricttariSt says that as tn,
time of calying approaches, il there is danger o
milk fever-and there always is with large ant
rich milkers-do not milk out clean, nor lie
the calf do So for fully three days, So long a
the colostrum can be detected in the milk.
"A new method Of preserving fruit is prac
tieed in England. Pears, apples and othe
fruits are reduced to a paste. which is theI
pressed into cakes and gently dried. When re
quired for use it is only necessary to pour fou
times their weight of boiling water over them
allow them TO soak for 20 inmates. and thel
add sugar TO suit the taste. The fine flavor o
the fruit is said TO be retained to perfection.
The Secretary Of the British Dairy Farm
ers' Association says he does not know OF a bet
ter method Of packing butter than that adopte'
|. by eOnsignOrs OF Brittany butter. Tons ar
sent 10 England weekly in rough pine boxes
holding two dozen pounds each. The butter
made up into two pound rolls, and wrapped il
, muslin, with an outside covering Of clean
white paper The boxes measure ii inches i
, length. l0lx inches deep; and as the lump
! of butter are made OF uniform length and di
ameter. IL Of them can be easily but closet
5 packed on end in each box. This butter al
rives in London beautifully fresh, perfect
clean, unbruised and uninjured in any way.
. Failing TO promptly replace broken VIII
. dowpane often proves expensive.
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